Public Health Ontario report finds few adverse reactions to vaccines

That’s the message Public Health Ontario delivered Monday after its first-ever surveillance of shots found only 56 serious adverse reactions — and no deaths — in nearly 7.8 million vaccinations given in 2012.

“It’s really, really a very small number,” said Shelley Deeks, a medical director with the agency who looks after diseases that can be prevented by immunization and vaccines.

The flu vaccine was especially safe, with only six serious reactions for every one million shots.

While the numbers might not sway staunch opponents of vaccines, Deeks said she hopes it does reduce their sway.

Deeks said she hopes the report and interest it generates delivers a message to doctors, nurses and pharmacists: Report adverse reactions from vaccines, even mild ones, to public health officials.

“They might not know they need to report,” she said.

The most common serious reactions in 2012 were seizures and a severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, that sometimes causes death.

While it’s tough to say how many opponents there are to vaccines, some idea of it can be gleaned from the number of parents who seek exemptions so their kids can go to school without getting shots.

This year, in London and Middlesex County, exemptions were filed for 2,268 children out of a total student population of 69,521.

“It’s a very small percentage,” said Christopher Mackie, the region’s medical officer of health.

Mackie said he hopes the new report persuades some parents the evidence is overwhelming that vaccines are safe, but he isn’t holding his breath.

“If you don’t believe in modern medicine, there’s nothing modern data will do to convince you,” he said.

Edda West doesn’t see it that way.

After her youngest daughter was stricken with illness after taking a vaccine, West helped lead a push in Ontario to broaden the exemptions parents can seek so their children don’t have to get vaccinated.

West has since gone on to lead a national group, the Vaccination Risk Awareness Network, and says her beliefs are grounded in science.

The goal is to make sure Canadians understand the risks, she said.

Asked about the Public Health Ontario report, West said often the harms of vaccines don’t show until weeks or months afterward.

The data used for the report does have limits, Deeks said: Patients may not report adverse reactions, especially milder ones, to a health professional, for example. And if they do, professionals may not know they must report it to be counted.

The Ontario report is the first in what’s planned to be a yearly look at adverse reactions associated with vaccines.